Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra
Published on: September 8, 2021
[Somatic pathology and causes of death in schizophrenia]
Abstract:
Autopsy records (protocols) and medical histories of 850 patients with schizophrenia (death cases from 1952 to 2007) have been studied using statistical analysis. There were substantial changes of indicators studied which were most distinctly seen over the last two decades: the dramatic increase of frequency of cardiac pathology, in particular, chronic ischemic heart disease; appearance of such diseases as acute myocardial infarction and dilatation cardiomyopathy; increase in the number of cases of chronic obstructive lung diseases and active lung tuberculosis as well as malignant tumors, mainly lung cancer. Some changes may be caused by the long-term treatment of schizophrenic patients with neuroleptics of phenothiazine group. The author suggests a term tanatomorphosis for such changes.
Related Concept Videos
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...
Schizophrenia
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
